Method and apparatus for bending sheet stock
First Claim
1. A method for use in bending sheet stock to form a side panel of a housing, said housing comprising said side panel and a front panel wherein said side panel is shaped to conform to said front panel, said method comprising the steps of:
- inputting dimensional information regarding said housing;
calculating the positions and shapes of bends for bending said stock to form said side panel of said housing so that said side panel of said housing is shaped to conform to said front panel of said housing;
determining a sequence for making said bends wherein interference is avoided;
generating a signal indicative of the positions, shapes and sequence of said bends; and
printing instructions regarding the positions, shapes and sequence of said bends.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for use in bending sheet stock to form a selected design is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a controller including a programmable system for calculating the positions and shapes of bends for bending the stock to the selected design and a sequence for making the bends, and a printer for printing instructions regarding the positions, shapes and sequence of the bends. The printer can print instructions directly on the stock or on a label for attachment to the stock. The instructions can be utilized by an operator or machine in bending the sheet stock. The invention improves the efficiency and accuracy of the process for bending sheet stock.
23 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method for use in bending sheet stock to form a side panel of a housing, said housing comprising said side panel and a front panel wherein said side panel is shaped to conform to said front panel, said method comprising the steps of:
-
inputting dimensional information regarding said housing; calculating the positions and shapes of bends for bending said stock to form said side panel of said housing so that said side panel of said housing is shaped to conform to said front panel of said housing; determining a sequence for making said bends wherein interference is avoided; generating a signal indicative of the positions, shapes and sequence of said bends; and printing instructions regarding the positions, shapes and sequence of said bends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An apparatus for use in providing instructions regarding at least shapes and positions for making bends in sheet stock to form a side panel of a housing, said housing including said side panel and a front panel wherein said side panel is shaped to conform to said front panel, comprising:
-
first means for receiving input information indicative of a form of said housing; second means for determining the shapes and positions of bends for bending the sheet stock to form said side panel of said housing so that said side panel of said housing is shaped to conform to said front panel of said housing; third means for outputting output information indicative of the shapes and positions for making said bends. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. An apparatus for use in providing instructions regarding at least a sequence for making a series of bends in sheet stock so as to bend said sheet stock to form a side panel of a housing, said housing including said side panel and a front panel wherein said side panel is shaped to conform to said front panel, comprising:
-
first means for receiving input information regarding a form of said housing; second means for determining a sequence for making bends for bending said sheet stock to form said side panel wherein interference between one portion of said sheet stock and another portion of said sheet stock is avoided; and third means for outputting output information indicative of said sequence for making said bends. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification